MODELLING OF AN INDICATOR SYSTEM FOR THE EVALUATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY IN AN URBAN CONTEXT

There are few indicator systems available for monitoring and assessing the environmental quality of large-scale regions. We constructed an indicator system for integrated assessment of the environmental quality of the Dianchi Basin. First, the definition of regional environmental quality is determined by both the supply of materials and energy in the region and the extent to which the region is polluted. Second, the indicator categories used for assessment mainly comprise vegetation biomass and the concentrations of various pollutants. Third, owing to spatial heterogeneity of a region, evaluation of the regional environment first requires division into sub-regions, each of which should be relatively homogeneous with regard to physical conditions (e.g. marine and terrestrial) and appearance (e.g. vegetation cover). Finally, the mathematical models for assessing regional environmental quality can be built according to the relationships between the various indicators, the sub-regions and regional environmental quality. The indicator system built using this approach can reflect environmental changes over time and identifies reasons for environmental variation.

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Urban Environmental Education Review

10.7591/cornell/9781501705823.001.0001 ◽

2017 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Keyword(s):

Environmental Education ◽

Environmental Quality ◽

Well Being ◽

Learning Opportunities ◽

Urban Context ◽

Healthy Environment ◽

Urban Environmental Education ◽

Environmental Educators ◽

Integrate Research ◽

Education Review

This book explores how environmental education can contribute to urban sustainability. Urban environmental education includes any practices that create learning opportunities to foster individual and community well-being and environmental quality in cities. It fosters novel educational approaches and helps debunk common assumptions that cities are ecologically barren and that city people don't care for, or need, urban nature or a healthy environment. Topics within the book range from the urban context to theoretical underpinnings, educational settings, participants, and educational approaches in urban environmental education. Chapters integrate research and practice to help aspiring and practicing environmental educators, urban planners, and other environmental leaders achieve their goals in terms of education, youth and community development, and environmental quality in cities.

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Integrated Ecosystem Design: An Evaluation Model to Support the Choice of Eco-Compatible Technological Solutions for Residential Building

Energies ◽

10.3390/en12142659 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 12 (14) ◽

pp. 2659 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Maria Rosaria Guarini ◽

Pierluigi Morano ◽

Francesco Sica

Keyword(s):

Environmental Quality ◽

Evaluation Model ◽

Residential Building ◽

Environmental Indicators ◽

Environmental Benefits ◽

Solar Irradiation ◽

Design Parameters ◽

Quality Level ◽

Urban Context ◽

Energy Materials

The technological components regarding building cladding are designed for ensuring thermo-hygrometric comfort conditions within habitable spaces and realising smart buildings. Often the solutions adopted are identified referring only to the characteristics of mechanical and energy materials without considering the ecological–environmental properties in an urban context. Thus, it is appropriate to choose technological components not only according to material type, but also ecological aspects pursued through presence and/or structured integration of natural elements. The technical-design forms based on “building–nature” integration allows, on one hand, the sustainable soil use with multiple benefits (ecosystem services) that natural systems produce, on the other hand, the identification of technological solutions sized referring environmental quality levels achieved through appropriate natural species use. In this way, it can be obtained lower buildings investment and maintenance costs, and greater energetic–environmental benefits. So, it is proposed an evaluation protocol for settlement transformation interventions structured considering environmental effects obtained with Nature-Based Solutions (NBSs) into the project. According to ecological–environmental quality level achieved with NBSs, the technological component is sized according to preliminary design parameters (noise reduction and solar irradiation degree) obtained through NBSs. The total performance level of technological solutions is expressed using Economic–Environmental Indicators. The protocol is tested on social housing case in Anagnina district of Rome (Italy).

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An Ecological Early Warning Indicator System for Environmental Protection of Scenic Areas

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su11082344 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (8) ◽

pp. 2344

Author(s):

Shih-Yen Lin ◽

Jun-Liang Lu ◽

Yu-Lin Fan

Keyword(s):

Environmental Management ◽

Environmental Quality ◽

Early Warning ◽

Indicator System ◽

Analytic Hierarchy ◽

Early Warning Indicator ◽

Early Warning Indicators ◽

New Perspective ◽

Warning Indicators

The aim of this research is to build an ecological early warning indicator system. Several complex and interlinked factors contribute to changes in the environmental quality of scenic areas. If changes in these factors can be monitored and controlled, the environmental quality of scenic areas can also be controlled, achieving the purpose of protecting the ecological environment. This study utilizes ecological early warning indicators to enable environmental management. Twenty-six early warning indicators are first identified through a literature review, interviews, and survey pretesting. A fuzzy analytic hierarchy process is then used to calculate the weights of different levels/hierarchies. These early warning indicators can be used both to assess the environmental quality of scenic areas, and to provide a foundation for the construction of an ecological early warning indicator system in scenic areas. This approach represents a new perspective on scenic area environmental management and ecological protection.

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CONSTRUCTING A COMPETITIVENESS INDEX FOR STATES IN MALAYSIA: A PANEL DATA ANALYSIS

Malaysian Management Journal ◽

10.32890/mmj2021.25.1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 25 ◽

pp. 1-24

Author(s):

Chee Ann Lim ◽

Ku Azam Tuan Lonik ◽

Radziah Adam

Keyword(s):

Economic Growth ◽

Panel Data ◽

Environmental Quality ◽

Economic Performance ◽

Indicator System ◽

Three Dimensions ◽

Social Aspects ◽

Kuala Lumpur ◽

Domestic Security ◽

Competitiveness Index

This study investigated the competitiveness index of the fourteen states in Malaysia. It also examined various aspects of competitiveness among states and vital elements that might influence competitiveness by utilizing a three-level hierarchical indicator system encompassing economic, social and environmental factors. An equally weighted index was applied to scrutinize the three dimensions. The index output was based on 24 indicators across six components. The critical components were economic performance, economic structure, marketization and openness, social aspects, domestic security and environmental quality. This study also examined the relationship between the components of competitiveness and economic growth for states in Malaysia by using the panel data estimation approach; a method which utilised data sets for fourteen states over a period extending from 2005 to 2016. Data were then analysed using a panel data regression model. Overall, findings showed that Selangor, where Kuala Lumpur the national capital was situated, was the most competitive state. In 2016, Kuala Lumpur was the best performer in terms of economic performance, social aspects and environmental quality. It was also found that domestic security and environmental quality were significant determinants of economic growth, which had enhanced competitiveness among states in Malaysia. A state’s performance according to the three dimensions varied greatly as there were different factors of specializations for each state. This study has proposed that each state in the federation possessed a significant economic performance, as well as substantial social and environmental development to ensure and sustain their respective state of competitiveness.

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